Lane trial to begin on busy route

Whangaparaoa Rd median to take commuter traffic at heaviest times

Atrial for a new system to manage traffic flow will begin in the north of Auckland in two weeks with the hope of easing congestion.

The installation of Dynamic Lane Controls on Whangaparaoa Rd on the Hibiscus Coast is complete and will take effect from January 24.

The 12-month trial will mean around 1.4km of Whangaparaoa Rd, between Hibiscus Coast Highway and Red Beach Rd, will lose its wide median strip at peak times, to be utilised as a second lane for commuter traffic.

The road runs along the ridge of the Whangaparaoa Peninsula and leads to several bays and residential suburbs.

It is known for huge surges in traffic during the morning commute, with a returning surge in the early evening.

The new system makes use of an adaptive LED light system embedded into the road surface to mark traffic lanes, instead of painted markings.

In non-peak traffic times, one lane of traffic will run in both directions as normal.

But during morning peak traffic, the LED lights will change, turning the median strip into an additional lane for traffic heading towards the Hibiscus Coast Highway.

In the afternoon, the LED lights will switch in the opposite direction, creating an additional lane for traffic heading towards the Red Beach Rd intersection.

Further to this, eight overhead gantry signs will inform drivers which lanes to use, and all side roads will have signage to remind drivers dynamic lane controls are operating.

The lanes will only operate from 4-6pm for the first three months of the trial. Auckland Transport will then look at extending the trial to the hours of 6.30-9am from April 18.

AT believes the system will allow better use of road space, accommodate peak traffic movement and reduces the need to widen roads or build new ones.

Group manager of network management and safety at AT, Randhir Karma, said the dynamic lanes will be closely monitored and changes can and will be made if needed.

The speed limit on Whangaparaoa Rd will be reduced to 50km/h for the initial period of the trial.

The trial initially received negative feedback from the community, with local board members voicing concerns for pedestrians and cyclists.

AT is banking on traffic lulls to create gaps for safer pedestrian-crossing opportunities and for the provision of two lanes to enable vehicles to change lanes in order to pass cyclists.

It said travel times, driver behaviour, delay for rightturners and the safety of all road users will be closely monitored during the trial.